2011 A Year of Reconciliation
Wow, 2010 has been an interesting year in the Santa Community. Drama after drama, with most being provoked over the smallest word or mistyped phrase. Then there are the national problems such as Celebrate Santa. Ego upon ego being trampled, and it doesn't stop. It does get nauseating.
What I want to take away from 2010 are the good things. Mrs. Claus and I had a wonderful Christmas Season to beat all else. Every smile that was created by seeing this Santa will be forever cherished. As a community, we saw the final signings of the wonderful Santa Claus Oath, which I was graciously allowed to be a part of as committee member. Those principles I still pledge to uphold. I wonder if others will. We had a wonderful, though small, gathering of Santas here in WV. What a great day. And throughout the year many friendships were made and are very cherished.
As I write this I am looking toward 2011. What can I do that will truly help me grow as a Santa and as a person of faith and character? This question has been rattling around with me since early this morning. My thought is this, love others. Is this not what Santa does? Is this not the lesson that Saint Nicholas learned from the life of Jesus that caused him to begin a ministry that we continue today? In doing so, we cannot ignore that even in our community there are those who are loveless or have forgotten what it means to show brotherly love, even after pledging it. Therefore I am welcoming and initiating a reconciliation in the spirit of Santa and beyond with those who have offended me or whom I have offended. I know it will take work, but in the interest of our Santa comunity I am willing to do it. My only prayer is that my effort will grow in the minds of others and that they too will do the same. Perhaps when we forgive and begin again to act as we should we can change things and bring finality and peace to problems. When we can act as men and go to one another in private with a grievance instead of using an open mike to tell everyone else too just maybe strife will end.
So, in short, I challenge everyone in this community to let go of past strife. Start clean. Be the Santa that is in you, 24/7/365. And this is something that we can do in costume and out. Just be Santa and may God bless you.
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